Inside the Admissions Room: What Really Matters
FREE WEBINAR
September 10, 2026 | 5 PM PT
Ben Gutierrez
Lead Counselor
Former Admissions Officer at Vanderbilt University and Johns Hopkins University
Learn how top admissions officers actually evaluate your child's academics and extracurriculars during their 9th and 10th grade years, giving your family the clarity needed to build a winning long-term strategy without unnecessary panic.
Evaluating Trajectory Over Perceived Perfection
Why a single rough semester or early grade slip doesn't disqualify your child, and how admissions committees evaluate multi-year academic growth over raw GPA alone.
Understanding Rigor in High School Context
How selective universities analyze underclassman course selection against your specific high school's offerings, balancing GPA protection with institutional rigor standards.
Proactive Planning vs. Late Course-Correction
Practical ways to establish momentum in 9th and 10th grade so your child enters junior year with a standout narrative rather than a rushed one.
September 10, 2026 | 5 PM PT
Lead Counselor
Former Admissions Officer at Vanderbilt University and Johns Hopkins University
Ben Gutierrez
Meet Your Host
Ben Gutierrez has over ten years of experience guiding students through college admissions, with expertise in selective universities. He has served on admissions and scholarship committees at Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins, where he gained insight into what top schools value. Ben helps students—especially those interested in STEM, pre-health, and research—develop standout academic and extracurricular profiles. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Vanderbilt and an M.L.A. from Johns Hopkins.
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